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Spark City Cycle #1
Spark City
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07B611KQK
Erroh has a plan. A simple plan. It’ll never work.
Despite his family's warrior pedigree, he'd rather gamble and drink while living from one tavern to the next. But when his wanderings bring him upon a gruesome slaughter of innocents he is torn from carefree ways.
Spark City is on the horizon and with it the mysterious trials of The Cull. After a life spent rejecting his birth right, the time has come to pick up his sword and accept his destiny.
With an army marching forward, and unlikely companions buy his side, does Erroh have what it takes to stop the coming war?
Spark City is the gripping first novel in Robert J Power’s new epic fantasy series. If you like spectacular combat, unlikely heroes, and slow burn romance, you’ll love this thrilling tale.
Buy Spark City to embrace your calling today!
694 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2018
1006 people are currently reading
2333 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Power
9 books153 followersRobert J Power is the fantasy author of the Amazon bestselling series, The Spark City Cycle and The Dellerin Tales. When not locked in a dark room with only the daunting laptop screen as a source of light, he fronts an Irish rock band despite their many attempts to fire him.
Robert lives in Wexford, Ireland with his wife Jan, 3 rescue dogs and a cat that detests his very existence. Before he found a career in writing, he enjoyed various occupations such as a terrible pizza chef, a video store manager (ask your grandparents), and an irresponsible camp counselor. Thankfully, none of them stuck.
If you wish to learn of Robert’s latest releases, his feelings on The Fallout Series, or just how many coffees he consumes a day before the palpitations kick in, visit his website at www.RobertJPower.com where you can join his group The Outcasts. You might even receive some free goodies, hopefully some writing updates, and probably a few nonsensical ramblings.
www.facebook.com/authorrobertjpower
www.RobertJPower.com
@RobertJPower
Robert lives in Wexford, Ireland with his wife Jan, 3 rescue dogs and a cat that detests his very existence. Before he found a career in writing, he enjoyed various occupations such as a terrible pizza chef, a video store manager (ask your grandparents), and an irresponsible camp counselor. Thankfully, none of them stuck.
If you wish to learn of Robert’s latest releases, his feelings on The Fallout Series, or just how many coffees he consumes a day before the palpitations kick in, visit his website at www.RobertJPower.com where you can join his group The Outcasts. You might even receive some free goodies, hopefully some writing updates, and probably a few nonsensical ramblings.
www.facebook.com/authorrobertjpower
www.RobertJPower.com
@RobertJPower
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
December 14, 2019
Spark City is an engrossing tale that takes a little while to get going. But once it does, it does pull the reader in.
I was getting a lot of Sword of Truth vibes when reading Spark City especially Faith of the Fallen. There are shared story beats but I consider Spark City to be better written though.
I was getting a lot of Sword of Truth vibes when reading Spark City especially Faith of the Fallen. There are shared story beats but I consider Spark City to be better written though.
December 9, 2019
* I read this as a judge for the #SPFBO as this is a 2019 finalist *
I have to say, the cover for this book was alluring, and the premise intrigued me, but when I started reading I quickly found a tone which was both elusive and naive and which never really clicked with me. We're following a main character called Erroh as he journeys to Spark City to undertake The Cull. The Cull is a ritual in his culture where females interview and test a male to see if he's worthy to become their mate, and Erroh is desirable for his lineage and his prowess.
We also follow another character of Lea later on, she's our other main viewpoint and she's a love interest for Erroh in The Cull. However, things get off to a very rocky start and neither one is sure how to mend and move past the things which happen throughout The Cull.
I found myself strongly disliking both Lea and Erroh and their story. Unfortunately the city never really felt fleshed out to me, and The Cull seemed like a collection of tasks which just didn't seem to really give a sense of who Erroh truly was. I felt as though I was reading for the sake of reading, and not becuase the tasks were exciting or the story and characters captivating.
As the book goes on we see a naivety and malicious side to both characters and to be honest neither one felt genuine as there were so many shifts from mature thoughts to young, adolescent pining and worry. I really struggled to believe either one was at all sincere or to think of them as real enough to have feelings, therefore whenever they were in trouble I found it very hard to care.
I think the structure of the book is odd too, it starts with The Cull which dominates the first half, then we have the journey where two characters constantly bicker and fight, and finally we have reconciliation and war ahead. Honestly, I felt like these parts were disjointed, and that I couldn't really find an actual 'plot' in any of it. I really wish there had been more of a direction and endpoint as it just feels like a lot of meandering about to me.
Overall, this was not badly written in terms of editing, but it was structurally not my thing and the characters did not appeal at all. I think there's potential and the author could make this into a wider-appealing story with some re-structuring, but it just didn't work very well for me as it currently is. 2.5*s - 5/10 for #SPFBO from me.
I have to say, the cover for this book was alluring, and the premise intrigued me, but when I started reading I quickly found a tone which was both elusive and naive and which never really clicked with me. We're following a main character called Erroh as he journeys to Spark City to undertake The Cull. The Cull is a ritual in his culture where females interview and test a male to see if he's worthy to become their mate, and Erroh is desirable for his lineage and his prowess.
We also follow another character of Lea later on, she's our other main viewpoint and she's a love interest for Erroh in The Cull. However, things get off to a very rocky start and neither one is sure how to mend and move past the things which happen throughout The Cull.
I found myself strongly disliking both Lea and Erroh and their story. Unfortunately the city never really felt fleshed out to me, and The Cull seemed like a collection of tasks which just didn't seem to really give a sense of who Erroh truly was. I felt as though I was reading for the sake of reading, and not becuase the tasks were exciting or the story and characters captivating.
As the book goes on we see a naivety and malicious side to both characters and to be honest neither one felt genuine as there were so many shifts from mature thoughts to young, adolescent pining and worry. I really struggled to believe either one was at all sincere or to think of them as real enough to have feelings, therefore whenever they were in trouble I found it very hard to care.
I think the structure of the book is odd too, it starts with The Cull which dominates the first half, then we have the journey where two characters constantly bicker and fight, and finally we have reconciliation and war ahead. Honestly, I felt like these parts were disjointed, and that I couldn't really find an actual 'plot' in any of it. I really wish there had been more of a direction and endpoint as it just feels like a lot of meandering about to me.
Overall, this was not badly written in terms of editing, but it was structurally not my thing and the characters did not appeal at all. I think there's potential and the author could make this into a wider-appealing story with some re-structuring, but it just didn't work very well for me as it currently is. 2.5*s - 5/10 for #SPFBO from me.
December 7, 2019
2.5/5
Spark City makes a good initial impression. Elegant cover and intriguing title coupled with generally positive reviews made me eager to read it. I liked the opening chapters as they efficiently set the tone and introduced Erroh - a snarky and superficially likable protagonist. Soon, though, my enthusiasm started to wane.
Plot & Structure
Spark City has a strange, unbalanced, structure. The first part, The Cull, is long (almost half of the book) and entertaining. The Cull is the process allowing females to secure a mate. Each male undergoes a series of questions and feats. The second part of the book is shorter. I would describe it as “on the road again”. Two characters get the time to know each other, learn to rely on each other, build trust and foundations for a passionate relationship. Soon enough, though, it turns into a vengeance story. Things culminate with an impossible battle, mayhem, and tragedy, plus a cliffhanger ending. Nothing feels balanced here. The plot? I’m sure there is one, but I’ll be damned if I can find it.
Characters
On the surface, Erroh is likable. He comes from an impressive line of warriors, but contrary to his parents he has no interest in fame or glory - he prefers to drink and play cards. He lacks any social grace which leads to misunderstandings, unnecessary tension, and humorous consequences.
I have a soft spot for blunt, snarky and socially awkward protagonists but Erroh’s behavior irked me. It shifts from clumsy through pompous and arrogant to feral and delusional. He can’t read people, and all those hot girls confuse him. He thinks they loathe him while in reality, they all have a crush on him.
Because he likes Lea most, he treats her worse than others. Simple. When he’s stressed by hard trials of The Cull (that should secure him a mate) he thinks of girls as of witches, bitches or whores. Ok, I get it. Erroh is young, emotional, and has no experience with women. But this doesn’t give him the right to reduce them in such a way.
And now, the girls. Instead of describing the depth of their characterization, I’ll use the quote:
They hiss, glare, cry and desire poor Erroh who’s too dumb to realize it. But then finally he goes on a road with his new mate and they have to learn to rely on each and share experiences they finally fall in true and pure love. Color me shocked.
Villains? Don’t even ask. They’re all cartoonish, flat caricatures.
I find the characterization weak, inconsistent, and unconvincing.
Point of view
Head-hopping isn’t a myth or an empty phrase repeated by grumpy book bloggers. It compromises my reading experience and pulls me out of the flow of the narrative. Unless it’s done well. Alas, in Spark City it’s done badly. Frequent POV switches felt jarring and irked me. I know that rules are for fools but breaking them well requires a lot of skill. It the narrative was attempting omniscient it failed miserably with limited head-hopping and POV-slips.
Setting
The setting is atmospheric and effective. There’s not much attention paid to world-building but we get enough to follow the story and understand the context. It works fine for me as I’m not into detailed world-building.
Voice / tone
Erroh’s voice is snarky and enjoyable. I have no issues with it. I can’t say the same about Lea - her voice shifts from mature to emotional and immature (her diary).
The tone changes depending on whose POV and when we are following. Basically, during the Cull the tone is humorous and conveys well emotions / states such as urgency, confusion, or anger. In later parts of the book the tone becomes darker and desperate but even in the darkest moments it doesn’t lose dark sense of humor.
Timing/pacing
Spark City has no rhythm. Not a bad thing per se. It never drags. It rarely slows down to offer a breather from the hectic pace and Erroh’s misfortunes and misadventures. As long as you don’t stop to think things through, it’s weirdly addictive in a way action and comedy B-movies are. But once you stop and ask yourself what’s the point of it all things get tricky.
In closing
Spark City is a quick and entertaining read that efficiently masks its issues with breakneck pacing, humor, over-the-topness, and outbursts of violence. It won’t satisfy more sophisticated readers, because it offers nothing new–it’s built on tired tropes (chosen one, coming-of-age, from anger to love, love from the first sight, and more).
I didn’t like it, but I recognize its sales and entertainment potential. With some refinements (like another pass of proofreading, and, ideally structural editing) it should appeal to readers looking for a fast, self-indulging but weirdly addictive romp.
Spark City makes a good initial impression. Elegant cover and intriguing title coupled with generally positive reviews made me eager to read it. I liked the opening chapters as they efficiently set the tone and introduced Erroh - a snarky and superficially likable protagonist. Soon, though, my enthusiasm started to wane.
Plot & Structure
Spark City has a strange, unbalanced, structure. The first part, The Cull, is long (almost half of the book) and entertaining. The Cull is the process allowing females to secure a mate. Each male undergoes a series of questions and feats. The second part of the book is shorter. I would describe it as “on the road again”. Two characters get the time to know each other, learn to rely on each other, build trust and foundations for a passionate relationship. Soon enough, though, it turns into a vengeance story. Things culminate with an impossible battle, mayhem, and tragedy, plus a cliffhanger ending. Nothing feels balanced here. The plot? I’m sure there is one, but I’ll be damned if I can find it.
Characters
On the surface, Erroh is likable. He comes from an impressive line of warriors, but contrary to his parents he has no interest in fame or glory - he prefers to drink and play cards. He lacks any social grace which leads to misunderstandings, unnecessary tension, and humorous consequences.
I have a soft spot for blunt, snarky and socially awkward protagonists but Erroh’s behavior irked me. It shifts from clumsy through pompous and arrogant to feral and delusional. He can’t read people, and all those hot girls confuse him. He thinks they loathe him while in reality, they all have a crush on him.
Because he likes Lea most, he treats her worse than others. Simple. When he’s stressed by hard trials of The Cull (that should secure him a mate) he thinks of girls as of witches, bitches or whores. Ok, I get it. Erroh is young, emotional, and has no experience with women. But this doesn’t give him the right to reduce them in such a way.
And now, the girls. Instead of describing the depth of their characterization, I’ll use the quote:
“I’m sure you like anything you can get,” hissed Roja dropping any pretence of cordiality. What marvellous event occurred on their day off to cause such hostility, wondered Erroh. Please ladies, do go on. “Well, at least I’m not a whore!” shouted Silvia. “You’re a little bit of a whore,” countered Roja.
They hiss, glare, cry and desire poor Erroh who’s too dumb to realize it. But then finally he goes on a road with his new mate and they have to learn to rely on each and share experiences they finally fall in true and pure love. Color me shocked.
Villains? Don’t even ask. They’re all cartoonish, flat caricatures.
I find the characterization weak, inconsistent, and unconvincing.
Point of view
Head-hopping isn’t a myth or an empty phrase repeated by grumpy book bloggers. It compromises my reading experience and pulls me out of the flow of the narrative. Unless it’s done well. Alas, in Spark City it’s done badly. Frequent POV switches felt jarring and irked me. I know that rules are for fools but breaking them well requires a lot of skill. It the narrative was attempting omniscient it failed miserably with limited head-hopping and POV-slips.
Setting
The setting is atmospheric and effective. There’s not much attention paid to world-building but we get enough to follow the story and understand the context. It works fine for me as I’m not into detailed world-building.
Voice / tone
Erroh’s voice is snarky and enjoyable. I have no issues with it. I can’t say the same about Lea - her voice shifts from mature to emotional and immature (her diary).
The tone changes depending on whose POV and when we are following. Basically, during the Cull the tone is humorous and conveys well emotions / states such as urgency, confusion, or anger. In later parts of the book the tone becomes darker and desperate but even in the darkest moments it doesn’t lose dark sense of humor.
Timing/pacing
Spark City has no rhythm. Not a bad thing per se. It never drags. It rarely slows down to offer a breather from the hectic pace and Erroh’s misfortunes and misadventures. As long as you don’t stop to think things through, it’s weirdly addictive in a way action and comedy B-movies are. But once you stop and ask yourself what’s the point of it all things get tricky.
In closing
Spark City is a quick and entertaining read that efficiently masks its issues with breakneck pacing, humor, over-the-topness, and outbursts of violence. It won’t satisfy more sophisticated readers, because it offers nothing new–it’s built on tired tropes (chosen one, coming-of-age, from anger to love, love from the first sight, and more).
I didn’t like it, but I recognize its sales and entertainment potential. With some refinements (like another pass of proofreading, and, ideally structural editing) it should appeal to readers looking for a fast, self-indulging but weirdly addictive romp.
December 16, 2019
Huge. Brutal. Bloody. Tragic. Terrifying. Gripping.
Its not often I read a book that really grabs my attention and won't let go until I am finished with it and at over 600 pages this was a real epic and kept me enthralled right to the end.
It started slowly, but the pace increased and I soon found myself immersed in Erroh's 'adventure'.
This is not one of those 'young boy discovers his magic ability/ancient past/secret family' sort of story. This was a story about a man who knows full well who and what he is. I grew to love Erroh - his hidden nervousness, his quietness, his unsurety (is that a word?)
There is romance, but my word, its beautifully developed and drawn out and all the more believable.
I could niggle about a couple of points - eg. the author switches pov mid-scene sometimes - but who cares about that when the dialogue is so good and the fight scenes are written with such care and the minor characters come to life on the page.
Five stonking stars. I want the next book please!
Its not often I read a book that really grabs my attention and won't let go until I am finished with it and at over 600 pages this was a real epic and kept me enthralled right to the end.
It started slowly, but the pace increased and I soon found myself immersed in Erroh's 'adventure'.
This is not one of those 'young boy discovers his magic ability/ancient past/secret family' sort of story. This was a story about a man who knows full well who and what he is. I grew to love Erroh - his hidden nervousness, his quietness, his unsurety (is that a word?)
There is romance, but my word, its beautifully developed and drawn out and all the more believable.
I could niggle about a couple of points - eg. the author switches pov mid-scene sometimes - but who cares about that when the dialogue is so good and the fight scenes are written with such care and the minor characters come to life on the page.
Five stonking stars. I want the next book please!
Read
January 29, 2023I've not read this book yet but it was one of 10 finalists out of 300 books in the SPFBO contest, so it's probably very good!
Read about the contest here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Read about the contest here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
December 10, 2019
Although I loathed the first few pages of this book, I stuck with it for a bit and after the first couple of chapters I had a hard time putting it down. The characters suck you in and force you to stay up well past your bed time. I can't wait for book two.
July 22, 2019
Brilliant story
Once you get into this book, you can't stop turning the pages. Bring on the next chapter, I want to know what happens next .
Once you get into this book, you can't stop turning the pages. Bring on the next chapter, I want to know what happens next .
June 12, 2019
Wow
Is this a love story, yes it is, but not like I have ever read before, when you get so frustrated with the book during the cull, don't stop, power through it just like the hero in the book, you won't regret it, book 2 where are you?
Is this a love story, yes it is, but not like I have ever read before, when you get so frustrated with the book during the cull, don't stop, power through it just like the hero in the book, you won't regret it, book 2 where are you?
June 9, 2019
Great read
I really enjoyed this book! Very well put together, I loved the character development can’t wait for the next one!
I really enjoyed this book! Very well put together, I loved the character development can’t wait for the next one!
August 17, 2019
Loved this book! Errol is so naive regarding women yet driven to prove himself worthy of his family. Can't wait for the next book!
October 3, 2019
Fantastic Book!
Finally its been awhile since I have found an author that holds up. I am incredibly grateful that for the length of the book and the narrative in general. He spends just the right amount of time in description with his own flair that sets him apart from many authors these days. The action is well told and the twists are great without being too crazy. Just the right amount of impossible.
Finally its been awhile since I have found an author that holds up. I am incredibly grateful that for the length of the book and the narrative in general. He spends just the right amount of time in description with his own flair that sets him apart from many authors these days. The action is well told and the twists are great without being too crazy. Just the right amount of impossible.
June 27, 2019
One of the best books I've read in years.
Characters that seem human, a gripping story that draws you in and won't let go and protagonists who have flaws, just like the rest of us.
If you read one fiction book this summer, this should be it !
Characters that seem human, a gripping story that draws you in and won't let go and protagonists who have flaws, just like the rest of us.
If you read one fiction book this summer, this should be it !
March 20, 2018
I really enjoyed Spark City! Every character you meet is so strong and you just get sucked into their world. Beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down. I’ll definitely be buying the next installment in the series as soon as it’s out.
October 26, 2018
I found myself enthralled by Erroh, a young man faced with an oncoming chaos that everyone else wants to ignore. Great character, we really get to see what drives him the good and the bad! I can't wait to read the next in this series!
September 10, 2019
Absolutely Brilliant!
Wow! The writing was top notch, the story a classic, the characters absolutely captivating. The interplay between Erroh and Lea was similar to that between Tiger and Del by Jennifer Roberson. That is rare, I have found. Bring on The March of Magnus. I simply cannot wait.
Wow! The writing was top notch, the story a classic, the characters absolutely captivating. The interplay between Erroh and Lea was similar to that between Tiger and Del by Jennifer Roberson. That is rare, I have found. Bring on The March of Magnus. I simply cannot wait.
April 27, 2020
I did not expect the love story in this book but thoroughly enjoyed it! It's actually refreshing to hear a love story like that after reading so many high fantasy books that have kind of god awful relationships with more than one woman or man. This one was oddly sweet in between the dramatic fight scenes and high societal interactions. Looking forward to the sequel!
April 6, 2020
Erroh, card player and wanderer extraordinaire, has been having a grand time putting off the inevitable, but it’s time to grow up, and he is ready to present himself for the Cull, at Spark City, it is his privilege and his right.
The Cull is an event that happens a few times a years where prospective Alpha’s are mated for life- if they are chosen.Erroh is part of the Alphaline, where his parents have some acclaim. They are select group of elite warriors who have endured education and training; they are the masters in the art of war. In other words- there is a lot of pressure on Erroh to do well.
**
We meet Erroh, in the last legs of his journey before heading to Spark City. There’s some card playing and a big scene where he finds a massacre at a burnt-out town.I found this whole first part (until we get to the city) rough to get through. Some of this has to do with my total dislike of drop-in conflict scenes to begin a story, and some of it was that no one just says anything; they whisper, yell, boast, beg, exclaim! It’s exhausting. Thankfully, that eases off and it becomes less of a tennis match of reactions or maybe I just get used to it and learn to ignore it.
Once we get to the city, this picks up a lot. Though there isn’t really a lot here story-wise- the first seventy-percent is the cull and the two mates on the road and the will they get past the hurtful things they’ve said/done to each other and eventually find common ground or will they continue to tear each other down and be oblivious to what’s clear to all of us readers? The bigger plot doesn’t come in to play until the last twenty-five percent and it's a little thin. In a six-hundred-page book that is a lot of volleying of pride and hurt feelings.
I have to say the relationship stuff was kind of like popcorn- I just couldn’t quit eating it up! It may be a tired trope to some but there’s nothing I enjoy more than an underdog story, and when it comes to romance, this hit a lot of my favourite tropes with strangers marrying, working through their differences and misunderstandings, until they eventually find love. I enjoyed this part the most, I just wish I could have enjoyed the character’s more but they fell into that old standby of the catty women fighting over the big strong guy (even if Erroh didn’t know he was the guy).
There are a couple interludes before the big battle, with other people outside of Erroh and company, that show up. But to me they were so out of left field I had to wonder what the point was when we don’t get anymore to do with them until almost the end of the book. I did wish that this back-end plot was a little more balanced throughout because it did seem to be leading to some interesting things.
It took awhile for me to get into it this story but once I did it was a fairly quick read considering its size and it was fun in places to see how badly these two mates could continue to misunderstand one another.
Though, I did have a lot of criticisms on the writing, structure, head-hopping etc. this gained some points in its ability to keep me turning pages. If the author can get those problems sorted and merge it with that readability he’s got going in this story, he’ll have something great.
5.5/10 3 stars (4.5-6/10)
other notes -
-I couldn’t help but think of all those romances I’ve read where the Prince’s of the realm gather to compete for the princess’s hand in marriage. (I love those)
-If you’re going to use a word as close to “fuck” as you can get, why not just use “fuck”?
-Nothing takes me out of a book quicker than pov jumping (head hopping) backtracking three pages because I think I missed something- its frustrating as fuk. Scene breaks would be helpful too.
-Because the Alphaline society seemed to have this wolf hierarchy thing going on with the terms, etc. I halfway expected the result of the Cull to end with Erroh and his potential mate, earning the right to turn into wolves.
Go here to find out more about SPFBO contest and to find links to all the participating bloggers/authors and reviews.
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
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September 9, 2019
Gladiator shacking up instead of avenging his wife
This books main character reminded me of General Maximus from Gladiator. Superhuman skill with a sword;a leader of men;devoted to friends and family and willing to go to any lengths to protect them. And like Maximus, this book beats the main character down in the process of building him up. There’s action in the book, but that’s not the focus. The focus is the main characters budding relationship with his new companion. It’s a romance of sorts, in the Arthurian sense of the words.
It’s a good book. The main character had enough human in him to offset his ungodly sword skills. The beats are a bit slow in coming, but there’s some reward in the buildup. The dynamic between him and the other characters, especially his companion, was good. Worth checking out.
This books main character reminded me of General Maximus from Gladiator. Superhuman skill with a sword;a leader of men;devoted to friends and family and willing to go to any lengths to protect them. And like Maximus, this book beats the main character down in the process of building him up. There’s action in the book, but that’s not the focus. The focus is the main characters budding relationship with his new companion. It’s a romance of sorts, in the Arthurian sense of the words.
It’s a good book. The main character had enough human in him to offset his ungodly sword skills. The beats are a bit slow in coming, but there’s some reward in the buildup. The dynamic between him and the other characters, especially his companion, was good. Worth checking out.
February 7, 2020
Gripping and Fun
Erroh is a drunken warrior bumbling his way through life. He is tasked with finding a mate suitable to continue he his bloodline and is tested repeatedly.
I read this on a whim since it showed up in my recommended reads for Kindle Unlimited. I honestly thought it was fantasy before realizing it was post-apocalyptic! I found the story engaging. Erroh was unlikable but somehow endearing. The setting is fascinating with good world building. There is a lot of battle which I normally find tedious to read but this was written so good I didn’t even skip those pages. I will be reading the rest of the series!
Erroh is a drunken warrior bumbling his way through life. He is tasked with finding a mate suitable to continue he his bloodline and is tested repeatedly.
I read this on a whim since it showed up in my recommended reads for Kindle Unlimited. I honestly thought it was fantasy before realizing it was post-apocalyptic! I found the story engaging. Erroh was unlikable but somehow endearing. The setting is fascinating with good world building. There is a lot of battle which I normally find tedious to read but this was written so good I didn’t even skip those pages. I will be reading the rest of the series!
April 14, 2020
Great Book
At times I was in the book with the characters feeling the same emotions that they felt one of if not the best book I have read this year so far. Would have liked some magic cause that more my style but I enjoyed this book a lot non the less. Would recommend this book to anyone who has read books like, Dawn of Wonder, Hurna's Blade, The Red Knight( though I have only read up to book 3), Age of Myth, Veiled Empire, or finally Prince of Thorns and liked any of these.
At times I was in the book with the characters feeling the same emotions that they felt one of if not the best book I have read this year so far. Would have liked some magic cause that more my style but I enjoyed this book a lot non the less. Would recommend this book to anyone who has read books like, Dawn of Wonder, Hurna's Blade, The Red Knight( though I have only read up to book 3), Age of Myth, Veiled Empire, or finally Prince of Thorns and liked any of these.
December 23, 2019
What a wonderful read
I read many books. Some keep my attention, some are difficult to get through, and some like this one grab hold and don't let go. If I could have I would have read this cover to cover without stopping. My duties to my family prevent this. When I wasn't reading it I was figuring out when I could return to it. A wonderful tale masterfully told.
I read many books. Some keep my attention, some are difficult to get through, and some like this one grab hold and don't let go. If I could have I would have read this cover to cover without stopping. My duties to my family prevent this. When I wasn't reading it I was figuring out when I could return to it. A wonderful tale masterfully told.
January 2, 2020
I feel quite torn about this book. For an SPFBO finalist, I am conflicted about the odd structure of this story and its worldbuilding. Since I never read the other semifinalists of that group, I cannot say much about whether any of them deserved the coveted spot.
And in a way, it is a shame the book didn't polish the world building and make it better because the final 15% was actually quite good.
A good part of problem falls on the protagonist Erroh who acts all macho alpha and women apparently swoon over him (which given his scenes are always in his POV and he can be so naive and whiney when he isn't drunk that it is hard to know whether he realizes his sex appeal) but he's a complete idiot and acts entitled most of the story. He gets angry (rightfully) when he encounters a village just a 2 days walk from Samara (Spark City and the country's capital at the same time) where women were burned alive and all of the men slaughtered. Apparently it is a big sin to murder females as everyone refers to women, but he has no qualms calling them whores in a very degrading way. He also seems naive to the degree of wanting me to yank my eyeballs bad because his father Magnus is rumored to have once been just as vicious as the mysterious army slaughtering villagers left in right in a country that already has a very low population with only 1 real city. And yet, Magnus somehow managed to charm the country's Primary ruler Dia and he got the chance to participate in the mysterious Cull.
Many readers loved the Cull which was rumored to be the funniest part of the book. I think it would have been more enjoyable if Erroh wasn't such a whiney and dumb character with almost zero redeeming qualities. It also doesn't give the reader a chance to like him after being humilliated by the 4 females interested in him just because he is a warmonger's son with a cute face or in battle after getting badly injured fighting 3 fellow Alphas wearing ill fitting armor.
The book never really delves much into the world building of the society. It just talks about how Erroh is so macho alpha and so great etc... and the women of the Cull are the female alphas that also come from warmonger bloodlines and trained in combat (and annoyingly, all of the women of the Cull are drop dead gorgeous, the book goes on an on and on about how hot alpha men and women are). We don't get to know for most of the book about the non alpha women. Erroh and pretty much everyone calls them whores even though most Alpha women are sexually active before they choose their male mate during the Cull. We briefly meet a librarian woman with a geeky quality but we don't know if she is Alpha or whore. Aierys is a secondary woman appearing late in the book with good combat skills and a pretty face who isn't alpha. Is she a whore even though she seldom sleeps with guys? Do farmers only get to sleep with whores and never mate? The book never delves into these areas which would have made Erroh's people more sympathetic when they are being slaughtered by a warmongering society of barbarians where women can sleep with whoever they feel like without issue but they seem more literate and respectful of women than Erroh's supposidly more "modern" society is.
One strange tidbit of the book is that alphas are not real feudal lords. They have good blood lineage but don't rule and protect their land borders. They just own a plot of land and farm it which I found to be strange because farming enough food to even feed a family of 3 involves a lot of hours working nonstop and it would make it hard to keep swordmanship skills up to par. Maybe book 2 will explain this further.
I found the lost book capsules fascinating and sadlt left to the side. Erroh's people apparently can read & write for the most part but their society cares little about developing science or even decent maps. The southern barbarian tribes however seem like a developed nation where the highest tiered individuals can access their vast knowledge. It just seems weird to me that a capsule apparently worth so much money is only enough to buy 1 bar of soap, a bit of salt, a bottle of booze and an unreliable map. The book is filled with these kinds of odd inconsistencies.
I didn't mind Lea, she is an okay character. Kind of rude to Erroh at first for no reason whatsoever (maybe to sabotage the other women to avoid choosing him so that she gets to keep him?). She will likely become more interesting in the sequel novel.
All in all, the book has a strange pacing but luckily other inconsistencies I noticed earlier in the book are confirmed or better explained by the last 15% where the book truly raises the curtain and becomes a good read. I might be willing to give book 2 a chance because it ends up in a high note, but I still feel like it is a disjointed read.
2 1/2 stars!
And in a way, it is a shame the book didn't polish the world building and make it better because the final 15% was actually quite good.
A good part of problem falls on the protagonist Erroh who acts all macho alpha and women apparently swoon over him (which given his scenes are always in his POV and he can be so naive and whiney when he isn't drunk that it is hard to know whether he realizes his sex appeal) but he's a complete idiot and acts entitled most of the story. He gets angry (rightfully) when he encounters a village just a 2 days walk from Samara (Spark City and the country's capital at the same time) where women were burned alive and all of the men slaughtered. Apparently it is a big sin to murder females as everyone refers to women, but he has no qualms calling them whores in a very degrading way. He also seems naive to the degree of wanting me to yank my eyeballs bad because his father Magnus is rumored to have once been just as vicious as the mysterious army slaughtering villagers left in right in a country that already has a very low population with only 1 real city. And yet, Magnus somehow managed to charm the country's Primary ruler Dia and he got the chance to participate in the mysterious Cull.
Many readers loved the Cull which was rumored to be the funniest part of the book. I think it would have been more enjoyable if Erroh wasn't such a whiney and dumb character with almost zero redeeming qualities. It also doesn't give the reader a chance to like him after being humilliated by the 4 females interested in him just because he is a warmonger's son with a cute face or in battle after getting badly injured fighting 3 fellow Alphas wearing ill fitting armor.
The book never really delves much into the world building of the society. It just talks about how Erroh is so macho alpha and so great etc... and the women of the Cull are the female alphas that also come from warmonger bloodlines and trained in combat (and annoyingly, all of the women of the Cull are drop dead gorgeous, the book goes on an on and on about how hot alpha men and women are). We don't get to know for most of the book about the non alpha women. Erroh and pretty much everyone calls them whores even though most Alpha women are sexually active before they choose their male mate during the Cull. We briefly meet a librarian woman with a geeky quality but we don't know if she is Alpha or whore. Aierys is a secondary woman appearing late in the book with good combat skills and a pretty face who isn't alpha. Is she a whore even though she seldom sleeps with guys? Do farmers only get to sleep with whores and never mate? The book never delves into these areas which would have made Erroh's people more sympathetic when they are being slaughtered by a warmongering society of barbarians where women can sleep with whoever they feel like without issue but they seem more literate and respectful of women than Erroh's supposidly more "modern" society is.
One strange tidbit of the book is that alphas are not real feudal lords. They have good blood lineage but don't rule and protect their land borders. They just own a plot of land and farm it which I found to be strange because farming enough food to even feed a family of 3 involves a lot of hours working nonstop and it would make it hard to keep swordmanship skills up to par. Maybe book 2 will explain this further.
I found the lost book capsules fascinating and sadlt left to the side. Erroh's people apparently can read & write for the most part but their society cares little about developing science or even decent maps. The southern barbarian tribes however seem like a developed nation where the highest tiered individuals can access their vast knowledge. It just seems weird to me that a capsule apparently worth so much money is only enough to buy 1 bar of soap, a bit of salt, a bottle of booze and an unreliable map. The book is filled with these kinds of odd inconsistencies.
I didn't mind Lea, she is an okay character. Kind of rude to Erroh at first for no reason whatsoever (maybe to sabotage the other women to avoid choosing him so that she gets to keep him?). She will likely become more interesting in the sequel novel.
All in all, the book has a strange pacing but luckily other inconsistencies I noticed earlier in the book are confirmed or better explained by the last 15% where the book truly raises the curtain and becomes a good read. I might be willing to give book 2 a chance because it ends up in a high note, but I still feel like it is a disjointed read.
2 1/2 stars!
January 6, 2020
A Gem of a Read.
Such a refreshing approach to the sword and fantasy genre. I enjoyed this novel enormously and the last sentence left me scurrying to find the next in the cycle. The author sustains interest and reader involvement throughout its considerable length and I want more! For fans of Joe Abercrombie and the like, I thoroughly recommend this read.
Such a refreshing approach to the sword and fantasy genre. I enjoyed this novel enormously and the last sentence left me scurrying to find the next in the cycle. The author sustains interest and reader involvement throughout its considerable length and I want more! For fans of Joe Abercrombie and the like, I thoroughly recommend this read.
March 24, 2020
I am sorry, this is very unique situation I am normally very good at finishing books, but I have tried to finish this book and it’s just not suiting me at all.
It’s not the quality of writing, but I am just feeling anything for the main character and his problems.
Others may enjoy it but it’s not for me. Tried till 40%, but not getting it.
It’s not the quality of writing, but I am just feeling anything for the main character and his problems.
Others may enjoy it but it’s not for me. Tried till 40%, but not getting it.
September 1, 2019
Outstanding Book
This was an excellent job of writing. I must say I'm thoroughly impressed dwith this book, it does start out slow but once it gets moving it doesn't disappoint. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
This was an excellent job of writing. I must say I'm thoroughly impressed dwith this book, it does start out slow but once it gets moving it doesn't disappoint. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
September 25, 2019
Incredible
Very very very enjoyable could not stop until I actually finished reading the entire book thank you for a totally different and enjoyable adventure itching for the next installment of the series
Very very very enjoyable could not stop until I actually finished reading the entire book thank you for a totally different and enjoyable adventure itching for the next installment of the series
April 7, 2021
This is great fantasy. Love the characters and Erroh is a really great protagonist. You have it all here: action, A love story, tragedy, and some interesting lore. It is well done and highly recommend it!
February 18, 2019
A really enjoyable read from a first time writer I cant recommend it enough.
January 12, 2020
We are introduced to Erroh, one of our main characters, with the general impression that he’s going to be a young, and snarky coward. The opening scene is of him playing cards and getting caught cheating. He doesn’t feel bad about the cheating and seems to learn little from his blunder being caught. He’s on his way to The Cull, he doesn’t want to go, and he’s finding as many distractions as he can along the way. He’s very interested in the ladies but doesn’t have an abundance of skills. He tends to misread them, misunderstand them, and in general bumble his way through courtship. The Cull is a set of trials where people find their ‘mates’, it’s a little odd but it is what it is. On the surface I should have liked Erroh, he reminded me a little of the character Jalan from Red Queen’s War… but something wasn’t quite right. He was a touch too vicious, maybe. When things don’t go his way with women he tends to think of them as “whores” and “bitches” which doesn’t sit well if this a person I’m supposed to be rooting for. If he was presented as a bad person I think I could get behind it more, but to me, he was presented as someone we’re supposed to like and that’s where things just didn’t work. He can also be creepy, he sometimes has urges to just reach out and grab women.
He resisted the primal urge to reach out and touch her hair, caress her cheek and perhaps make a desperate grab for her chest.
He can be headstrong, he definitely doesn’t want to settle down and get a mate but doesn’t have a ton of choice. He does seem to have a good heart despite it all, he takes the time to bury people he finds dead along his journey to Spark City, he obviously doesn’t have to do that. He prefers the non-violent route even when confronted with dangerous people despite the fact he’s capable of defending himself. When he’s left with no choice he can kill but it’s not the first option he goes with and regrets it afterward. He’s definitely not a villain, but I just didn’t enjoy his character.
For some reason, The Cull was never discussed with Erroh which leaves him clueless as to what’s actually going to happen – despite the important role it plays in their society. Erroh has to learn what The Cull is from Mea, a character he met on his journey to the city and the way it was presented was a little info dumpy. She explains to him about how females are obligated to get an education, and that bloodline is of utmost importance etc etc. People who are undesirable are called “lowlines” and considered to be of a weak lineage. The Cull will choose his mate for life, so this set of trials isn’t to be taken lightly. He’s considered a desirable mate and four different women were interested in him during The Cull. Of course, they are all drop-dead-gorgeous and considered goddesses by our MC. This is a common trope used, the man/woman has no idea how desirable they really are despite everyone around them fawning over them and yada yada.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the stylistic prose, and I think it’s going to be a bit divisive. Modifiers were used heavily and it doesn’t always sound quite right. The way things were described were grandiose or exaggerated where they didn’t need to be. It can be so overly descriptive it starts to become distracting, muddling the story. Lots of things were described as ‘magnificent’ or people did things ‘magnificently’ when all that was being described was someone asking for a drink. The structure of the writing was highly stylized as well, there were many short clipped sentences coupled with long flowing sentences.
There was cursing in this, sort of. The use of “fuk” and “fuken” was confusing to me. It’s so close to the real thing, why change it? There were other slightly modified words like ‘cofe’ instead of coffee and ‘mydame’ instead of madam which were also distracting. These things bothered me, but your mileage may vary on that, these things may not bother you at all.
Certain phrases and words were overused as well, “kissable lips” was used more than once, and it’s such a specific phrase it stuck out right away. By page four the word ‘menacingly’ had been used three times and the word “fine” was used over 230 times. Words like ‘fine’ are so mundane even when used frequently they typically fly under the radar, but it was used so many times I actually started to notice it.
The world-building was sparse for my taste as well, if you’re someone who is bothered by detailed attention to world-building and just want to get into the action, this could be for you. I prefer a middle ground, I don’t necessarily need super intricate and in-depth world-building, but I like to be able to visualize the city or feel like I know the geography of the world. There wasn’t quite enough here for me to go on so I never got a full appreciation for the city itself or other locations.
It’s difficult for me to say what the pacing was like since I was reading so slowly due to a lack of motivation. When I’m not enjoying the characters and can’t get a grip on the world itself I struggle and start to slow down. There was a lot of action and other things like the tasks that may keep other people reading faster than I did.
This review may sound like I hated the book, but I didn’t, I’m just not the right audience for it. For other people, this could very well read like a fast-paced action adventure with a flawed and snarky protagonist that they love to root for. The writing can be very atmospheric and create an immersive experience with so many descriptors and strong visual writing. As far as editing, outside of some overused words and phrases, it came across as professionally edited with very few grammar errors.
Ratings:
Plot: 8/15
Characters: 10/15
World-Building: 8/15
Writing: 11/15
Pacing: 10/15
Originality: 8/15
Personal Enjoyment: 4/10
Final Score: 59/100 or 6/10 for SPFBO or 3/5 stars on GR.
He resisted the primal urge to reach out and touch her hair, caress her cheek and perhaps make a desperate grab for her chest.
He can be headstrong, he definitely doesn’t want to settle down and get a mate but doesn’t have a ton of choice. He does seem to have a good heart despite it all, he takes the time to bury people he finds dead along his journey to Spark City, he obviously doesn’t have to do that. He prefers the non-violent route even when confronted with dangerous people despite the fact he’s capable of defending himself. When he’s left with no choice he can kill but it’s not the first option he goes with and regrets it afterward. He’s definitely not a villain, but I just didn’t enjoy his character.
For some reason, The Cull was never discussed with Erroh which leaves him clueless as to what’s actually going to happen – despite the important role it plays in their society. Erroh has to learn what The Cull is from Mea, a character he met on his journey to the city and the way it was presented was a little info dumpy. She explains to him about how females are obligated to get an education, and that bloodline is of utmost importance etc etc. People who are undesirable are called “lowlines” and considered to be of a weak lineage. The Cull will choose his mate for life, so this set of trials isn’t to be taken lightly. He’s considered a desirable mate and four different women were interested in him during The Cull. Of course, they are all drop-dead-gorgeous and considered goddesses by our MC. This is a common trope used, the man/woman has no idea how desirable they really are despite everyone around them fawning over them and yada yada.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the stylistic prose, and I think it’s going to be a bit divisive. Modifiers were used heavily and it doesn’t always sound quite right. The way things were described were grandiose or exaggerated where they didn’t need to be. It can be so overly descriptive it starts to become distracting, muddling the story. Lots of things were described as ‘magnificent’ or people did things ‘magnificently’ when all that was being described was someone asking for a drink. The structure of the writing was highly stylized as well, there were many short clipped sentences coupled with long flowing sentences.
There was cursing in this, sort of. The use of “fuk” and “fuken” was confusing to me. It’s so close to the real thing, why change it? There were other slightly modified words like ‘cofe’ instead of coffee and ‘mydame’ instead of madam which were also distracting. These things bothered me, but your mileage may vary on that, these things may not bother you at all.
Certain phrases and words were overused as well, “kissable lips” was used more than once, and it’s such a specific phrase it stuck out right away. By page four the word ‘menacingly’ had been used three times and the word “fine” was used over 230 times. Words like ‘fine’ are so mundane even when used frequently they typically fly under the radar, but it was used so many times I actually started to notice it.
The world-building was sparse for my taste as well, if you’re someone who is bothered by detailed attention to world-building and just want to get into the action, this could be for you. I prefer a middle ground, I don’t necessarily need super intricate and in-depth world-building, but I like to be able to visualize the city or feel like I know the geography of the world. There wasn’t quite enough here for me to go on so I never got a full appreciation for the city itself or other locations.
It’s difficult for me to say what the pacing was like since I was reading so slowly due to a lack of motivation. When I’m not enjoying the characters and can’t get a grip on the world itself I struggle and start to slow down. There was a lot of action and other things like the tasks that may keep other people reading faster than I did.
This review may sound like I hated the book, but I didn’t, I’m just not the right audience for it. For other people, this could very well read like a fast-paced action adventure with a flawed and snarky protagonist that they love to root for. The writing can be very atmospheric and create an immersive experience with so many descriptors and strong visual writing. As far as editing, outside of some overused words and phrases, it came across as professionally edited with very few grammar errors.
Ratings:
Plot: 8/15
Characters: 10/15
World-Building: 8/15
Writing: 11/15
Pacing: 10/15
Originality: 8/15
Personal Enjoyment: 4/10
Final Score: 59/100 or 6/10 for SPFBO or 3/5 stars on GR.
March 7, 2020
3.75 out of 5 (SPFBO rating 7.5/10)
Although it was far from perfect, I loved this low fantasy/post-apocalyptic sci-fi coming of age story about a young man trying to find his own way out from under the shadow of his father, a famous (or infamous) warlord. Right from the start, I appreciated the roguish aspects of Erroh, who cheats at cards, drinks too much, and finds other means of self-sabotage as a way of denying or escaping his heroic birthright. I have always had a tender spot in my heart for reluctant heroes, and Erroh captured mine early on, but I particularly loved the second half of the book, in which Erroh’s love for his mate blossoms and deepens while the couple confronts an enemy incursion. I also admired a lot of the world building, such as how society had recast itself in the mold of wolf packs, where there are "alphas" who lead (and who mate for life) and "alphalines," which are the elite bloodlines in this world. Hints that the story is set in the far future of the Earth or an Earth-like planet many thousands of years after what appears to have been a nuclear apocalypse also hit the right buttons for me.
That said, I had several problems with the novel. First, it was poorly edited and formatted, with lots of typos and a lack of breaks between scenes, which compounded the confusion sometimes caused by the omniscient, abruptly head-hopping style of narration. Another issue was the society is established as a matriarchy where women hold the social and political power and men are cast in the role of not only protector, but helpmates. However, the author doesn’t seem to have really thought this through, as in practice the female characters take subordinate roles to their male partners and the language of the world is rife with casual misogyny, which simply didn’t fit the social structure the author tells us is in place (although the text also implies this societal shift happened within the past generation or two, so it may be there hasn’t been time for cultural norms to adjust to new social realities?). There also are a few too many plot conveniences for my taste, including the very end which, while emotionally satisfying, seemed implausible.
Although it was far from perfect, I loved this low fantasy/post-apocalyptic sci-fi coming of age story about a young man trying to find his own way out from under the shadow of his father, a famous (or infamous) warlord. Right from the start, I appreciated the roguish aspects of Erroh, who cheats at cards, drinks too much, and finds other means of self-sabotage as a way of denying or escaping his heroic birthright. I have always had a tender spot in my heart for reluctant heroes, and Erroh captured mine early on, but I particularly loved the second half of the book, in which Erroh’s love for his mate blossoms and deepens while the couple confronts an enemy incursion. I also admired a lot of the world building, such as how society had recast itself in the mold of wolf packs, where there are "alphas" who lead (and who mate for life) and "alphalines," which are the elite bloodlines in this world. Hints that the story is set in the far future of the Earth or an Earth-like planet many thousands of years after what appears to have been a nuclear apocalypse also hit the right buttons for me.
That said, I had several problems with the novel. First, it was poorly edited and formatted, with lots of typos and a lack of breaks between scenes, which compounded the confusion sometimes caused by the omniscient, abruptly head-hopping style of narration. Another issue was the society is established as a matriarchy where women hold the social and political power and men are cast in the role of not only protector, but helpmates. However, the author doesn’t seem to have really thought this through, as in practice the female characters take subordinate roles to their male partners and the language of the world is rife with casual misogyny, which simply didn’t fit the social structure the author tells us is in place (although the text also implies this societal shift happened within the past generation or two, so it may be there hasn’t been time for cultural norms to adjust to new social realities?). There also are a few too many plot conveniences for my taste, including the very end which, while emotionally satisfying, seemed implausible.
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